Crew's Trapp Happy For Seattle's Yedlin

When DeAndre Yedlin checked in for the first time for the United States national team in the 2014 World Cup, Wil Trapp found himself staring at his television screen with pride.

And, naturally, with just the tiniest bit of envy. After all, it was only two years ago that Trapp and Yedlin were collegiate teammates at the University of Akron and less than a year since they played for the United States in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“It gives me motivation,” Trapp said of watching Yedlin in Brazil. “That’s something that really, really pushes me. I guess it’s a good envy, in a way, and jealousy to be like, ‘All right, if he can do it then hopefully I can make the push as well.’ ”

The 21-year-old Yedlin signed with the Seattle Sounders as a homegrown player prior to the 2013 MLS season, while Trapp did the same with the Crew. Both players will be part of the 2014 MLS Homegrown Player game, which will take place August 4 in Portland.

As rookies, Yedlin was given more of an opportunity for early action than Trapp, which likely helped make him a more attractive candidate for national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Yedlin made 31 appearances including 30 starts for the Sounders as a rookie and was both an all-star and a finalist for rookie of the year. Trapp, meanwhile, was kept out of the Crew lineup in the early going due to his national-team commitments but never came out once he made his debut July 7.

Trapp would start the final 16 games of the season for the Crew and was named the Crew’s breakout performer of the year. Now Yedlin is rumored to be inking a deal to play overseas while Trapp is being mentioned as a likely candidate to represent his country in the 2018 World Cup.

Should that come to fruition, Trapp will have a friend to look to for guidance in Yedlin, who came on in the 72nd minute against Portugal in the group stage and the 84th minute against Germany before replacing an injured Fabian Johnson in the 32nd minute in a quarterfinal loss to Belgium.

“I couldn’t be more excited for him,” Trapp said. “I’m very proud of all the things he’s done. In the last month he’s really grown exponentially. That’s wonderful to see. I’d be remiss if I didn’t say I had goosebumps the first time he stepped onto the field. I was texting him as much as I could.

“It was so cool to see, and not only to get in the game but to play well was even better to see.”